The solid molecular hydrogens in the condensed phase: Fundamentals and static properties

The molecular hydrogens (H₂, D₂, HD, etc.) form the simplest of all molecular solids. The combination of the light mass, small moment of inertia, weak interactions, and the quasi-metastable ortho-para species result in a fascinating low-temperature behavior that can be understood to a large extent from considerations of first principles. After discussing single molecule properties and intermolecular interactions we discuss in detail the ortho-para properties, conversion and diffusion. This is followed by a description of the crystal structures and the orientational ordering phenomena. The thermodynamic properties are reviewed. The article is concluded with a discussion of the translational ground state of the solid and the effect of the large zero-point motion on the solid state properties. A large number of data are collected in tables and graphs to provide a reference source.